Ellen DeGeneres applauds gay films

In an interview with TV Guide Online at a garden party benefit for Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Ellen DeGeneres spoke of the importance of films with gay characters or themes. “I think it’s important to have more gay films available, especially to our youth, so that they see there’s other people out there like them.” She elaborated, “It’s not all tragic and depressing. Unfortunately, we just focus on how hard it is and the suicide and the hate crimes, but there are a lot of love stories, and that should be portrayed in the media. If I can bring awareness to that and ask for people to shell out a few more dollars, that’s why I’m here, basically.” DeGeneres was attending the function as a special guest of the festival or, as she put it, “the designated lesbian.”